The latest Instagram statistics show that there are currently more than 800 million monthly active users and 500 million of those are daily active users. That’s more than twice as much as Twitter and three times as much as Snapchat.
With the introduction of Stories, target advertising, and business pages, Instagram has created a more dynamic marketing opportunity for marketers. So, if you’re not already on Instagram, now’s the time. Check out the list of Instagram statistics that every marketer should know below:
1. Instagram Mobile Ad Revenue
According to data from Statista, Instagram ad revenue is expected to hit nearly $7 billion in 2018. As Instagram continues to roll out new advertising methods, at least 30% of Instagram users have purchased a product they first discovered on Instagram.
Instagram Shopping is a great example of this. Shopping Tags enable brands to augment their photos with product information and links to buy the items on their sites. Users will see “Tap to view products” notification in the bottom left of the image, revealing tags overlaid on the post and product information.
2. Location Tagging Tied to Engagement Growth
Location tagging gives Instagram users another way to find content. Posts tagged with a location receive 79% higher engagement. Not only does post engagement skyrocket, users that click your location or establishment would then be able to view all posts on Instagram that have been tagged with your location. This is a great way for them to see what others are raving about (hopefully).
3. Video Views Increased by 80% in 2017
Video content is one of the few types of visuals that provides the value, relevance and flexibility consumers want. Today, businesses are looking to take advantage of this opportunity to better connect with consumers, engage with them and convert them into paying customers.
Time spent watching video on Instagram is up more than 80% year over year. With the emergence of innovative mobile video formats like Instagram Stories and Live, businesses are finding more opportunities to connect with their audiences, whether on-the-go or in the moment.
4. Instagram Engagement is Higher on Weekdays
Sprout Social found that Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. were by far the safest days to post to maximize engagement. Other findings include:
- Thursday has the highest amount of engagement in the week.
- Sunday has the weakest engagement of the week.
- The most recommended times are Wednesday at 3 p.m., Thursday at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3 to 4 p.m. and Friday at 5 a.m.
5. 65% of the Highest Performing Posts Feature Products
A high engagement rate is a great sign that your followers know what they like. This is particularly important for brands that may wish to introduce their products to your audience. More surprisingly, product posts beat lifestyle(43%) and celebrity(29%) content when it came to engagement.
But before you start flooding your feed with product shots, dig this. Many brands are following the 80/20 rule that states approximately 80% of your content should be focused on education, enlightening and engaging your audience, and only 20% should be self-promotional.
